Amazon Prime reportedly agreed to offer struggling Bally Sports parent company Diamond Sports a deal worth $115 million. That was expected to go a long way in helping Bally hang on long enough to carry regional MLB, NBA and NHL games beyond 2024.
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But according to Sports Business Journal, that Amazon offer has been pulled. Bally is still expected to carry regional sports broadcasts for multiple teams this season — but man, it is hanging on by a thread and this is just another massive blow to its future.
For the record, Diamond Sports is moving through bankruptcy proceedings, though it remains the largest regional sports network in the country. While Bally will still carry games for multiple teams, others have split , opting to broadcast their games for free. The rest may soon have no choice but to be on their way out as well.
Amazon, of course, recently became a new NBA media rights partner, along with NBC Sports (joining Disney-owned ESPN and ABC). Amazon and NBC will begin carrying pro basketball games in the fall of 2025.
As for Diamond/Bally, it seems like things remain in peril, with the company currently going through bankruptcy proceedings.
"In one wrinkle, if Diamond does eventually emerge, Amazon could still wind up as one of the streaming avenues available for accessing Diamond content and games," wrote Evan Drellich of The Athletic. "Along with the investing plan, Diamond and Amazon reached a commercial agreement that would make Amazon Diamond's new 'primary partner' in selling streaming access to games."
(Portions of this post originally appeared on Hoops Wire and were syndicated with permission.)
